Bath tub seat



Sept. 23, 1958 A. MIKOLA 2,852,785

BATH TUB SEAT Filed May 51, 1957 INVENTOR. ANDREW MIKOLA ATTORNEY United atent Ofiiice BATH TUB SEAT Andrew Mikola, Swanton, Ohio Application May 31, 1957, Serial No. 662,647

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-185) This invention relates to bath tub seats of a type suspended from the upper edges of bath tubes and an object is to produce a sturdy and reliable bath tub seat of this character having new and improved features of construction, arrangement and adjustability hereinafter described.

For purposes of illustration but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown on the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a top perspective view of the bath tub seat, a portion being broken away for purposes of clarity;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the supporting hangers showing by broken lines the seat panel arrangement;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing opposite end portions of the seat panels and showing particularly the manner in which the hangers are secured in position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of one side of the seat panels, indicating how they telescope with each other and the manner in which the straight arms of the hangers extend into the same; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternate form in which elongate rigid metal tubes are inserted in each of the hangers for supporting an extra heavy weight.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a bath tub seat having a pair of telescoping sheet metal seat panels and 11, the upper seat panel 10 having downwardly, inwardly and upwardly curved or rolled edge portions 12 extending from end to end at each side. The inner seat panel 11 is also provided with downwardly, inwardly and upwardly curved or rolled portions 13 at each side extending longitudinally thereof, the rolled edges 13 telescoping within the rolled edges 12 to permit relative adjustability of the panels for lengthening or shortening the span as desired. To retain the panels in the desired position of adjustment, the panel 11 is provided with a row of spaced holes 14 and extending down from the panel 10 is a bolt to receive a wing nut on the underside of the panel 11, this bolt and nut assembly 15 securing the panels in the selected position.

For supporting the seat panels from opposite rims or edge portions of the tub, a pair of supporting metallic rod hangers 16 and 17 are provided. Each of the hangers is provided with a horizontally disposed U-shaped tub engaging portion 18. The front ends of the arm of the U join vertical arms 19 which in turn are integral with parallel straight arms 20. The straight arms 20 of the hanger 16 extend into the rolled portions 13 of the panel 11 and the straight arms of the hanger 17 extend into the rolled portions 12 of the seat panel 10. As particularly indicated on Figure 3, the straight arms 20 are secured in place by crimped portions 21 engaging the hanger 16 and crimped portions 22 engaging the arms of the hanger 17.

An important feature of the invention resides in constructing the straight arms 20 of the hangers 16 and 17 in the manner indicated on Figure 2. It will be observed that the arms of the respective hangers are of ditferent length. For example, a long arm of the hanger 17 abuts the short arm of the hanger 16 whereas the long arm of the hanger 16 abuts the short arm of the hanger 17. In this manner a greater weight can be sustained by the seat panels without danger of the seat buckling or bending.

For preventing slipping of the hangers on the parts engaging the tube rims and also preventing scratching or marring of the tub, a sleeve 23 of suitable plastic or rubberdike material is slipped over portions of the hangers. To facilitate this operation, if desired, the U portion 18 of each of the hangers may be split as indicated at 24 although this is not necessary since the sleeve may be applied in other ways.

In order to sustain an even greater weight on the seat panels, if desired, elongate tubes indicated at 25 extending from end to end of the seat panels, may be of relatively rigid metallic construction. The sleeves 25 in this case are inserted in the rolled edges of the seat panels and receive the straight arms 20 of the hangers, as will be readily understood. As shown in each instance, the non metallic sleeve 23 may extend inside of the rolled edge portions of the seat panels.

From the above description, it will be manifest that I have produced an exceedingly sturdy bath tub seat which can effectively sustain the weight of a large person without danger of buckling, breaking or bending. The seat is so constructed that it is free from sharp edges which could be harmful. The unique arrangement of the straight arms of the hangers contributes to the strength of the device in an extremely simple manner. After length adjustment has been made, the seat panels are securely locked so that there is no danger of one panel accidentally slipping with respect to the other panel.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and choice of materials may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claim.

Whatl claim is:

A bath tub seat comprising a pair of sheet metal seat panels arranged in superposed relation, downwardly and inwardly rolled side edge portions on each panel telescoping with each other, rod-like hangers at opposite ends of said seat panel, said hangers being of U-shape hook form and having straight parallel arms extending into the ends of the respective rolled side edge portions of the panels, each hanger being in two parts separated at the base of the U, a rubber-like sleeve covering the abutting ends of the hanger parts, said straight arms being of uneven lengths for each hanger and arranged so that along arm of one hanger abuts in end to end relation the short arm of the other hanger on one side and the opposite side being reversed so that the adjacent ends of arms on one side are staggered with respect to those on the other side, rigid metallic tubes extending from end to end of the seat panels and disposed in said rolled edge portions to receive the straight arms of the hangers and thereby increase the strength of the assembly for withstanding heavier loads, and means for securing said straight arms in their respective rolled edge portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,561,470 Khim Nov. 17, 1925 2,670,029 Rossi Feb. 23, 1954 2,736,904 Suggs Mar. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 164,757 Australia June 10, 1954 

